Suburban crocodiles make it onto big screen
North Rhine-Westphalia is this summer hosting the shoot for the most promising youth films of the moment. For the past week, Vivian Naefe has been shooting The Wild Chicks 3 (see news). Meanwhile, Christian Ditter (French for Beginners [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) is currently filming a big-screen adaptation of the classic children’s book "Vorstadtkrokodile" ("Suburban Crocodiles") by Max von der Grün, who was renowned for his interest in the German working class.
The novel – which sold over 800,000 copies upon publication in 1977 – has been adapted for television (by Wolfgang Becker), but this is the first time it will appear on the silver screen.
Co-written by the director and Martin Ritzenhoff, the film centres on 10-year-old Hannes who lives with his single mother (Nora Tschirner) and wants more than anything to be a part of the "Vorstadtkrokodile" gang. But whilst trying to prove his bravery he puts himself in danger and is saved just in time by Kurt, who also wants to join the group. The problem is that Kurt is in a wheelchair and is of no interest to the little tough guys.
Shooting – which began this month and will wrap in August – will take place in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, between Viersen, Dortmund and Mönchengladbach.
Die Vorstadtkrokodile is produced by Westside and Rat Pack Filmproduktion, in co-production with Constantin. The latter company will also release the title domestically next year.
(Translated from French)
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